Appeal for donors as blood supply dwindles

With supplies dwindling and a drop in donations expected when the World Cup kicks off next week, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is urging people to give blood.

Director of operations, Paddy Bowler, said IBTS expects blood supply levels to be down to four days in most blood groups by the middle of this week. To maintain supply and avoid shortages, they need 13,500 donations this month.

“That’s an extra 400 people a week compared to last month coming into our clinics,” he said, indicating the scale of the challenge.